Sensor-type flushing system for a toilet tank

ABSTRACT

A sensor-type flushing system for a toilet tank includes a pressured tank installed in a toilet tank, both a switch valve and an electromagnetic valve connected to the pressured tank. The pressure tank is provided with a drain valve so that pressured tater stored in the pressured tank may be made to flow out of the drain valve to flush pressed water in the toilet bawl by handling manually an operational device set on an outer wall of the toilet tank. Further, the operational device is provided with a sensor, which senses a human body and emits and receives signals to electrically open the electromagnetic valve so as to open the drain valve for flushing pressured water into the toilet bawl. Thus the sensor-type flushing system has two functions of manual and automatic flushing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a sensor-type flushing system for a toilettank, particularly to one operable both automatically and manually.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional toilet tanks have been commonly operated manually, needinga little force and not so hygienic. So sensor-type flushing systems fora toilet tank have been made and in use widely, and one of them isprovided with a sensor to be embedded in a wall, and the sensor iselectrically connected with the toilet tank with wires also embedded inthe wall. The other is provided with a wireless sensor also embedded ina wall, and a receiver installed in the toilet tank so that the sensorcan command the receiver to carrying out flushing by means of infraredray when it senses a person stands before the toilet or leaves thetoilet.

However, conventional sensor-type flushing system for a toilet tankneeds the sensor to be embedded in a wall, so it needs work to break ordig the wall and repair it again, not convenient for use. If thewireless sensor is used with an independent power, it must use abattery, and then the battery has to be replaced with new onesfrequently, in addition, the wires have to be exposed out to impair theappearance or a wall has to be dug for embedding them.

SUMMRY OF THE INVNETION

This invention has been devised to offer a sensor-type flushing systemfor a toilet tank, which includes a pressured tank installed inside atoilet tank, both a switch valve and an electromagnetic valve connectedto the pressured tank so that pressured water stored in the pressuredtank may be made to flow through a drain valve fixed in the bottom ofthe pressures tank for flushing the toilet bawl by manual handling of anoperation device fixed on an outer wall of the toilet tank. Further theoperational device is provided with a sensor, which can sense a humanbody coming or leaving and emits and receives signals so as to actuatethe electromagnetic valve to open the drain valve for flushing pressuredwater into the toilet bawl.

The invention functions normally with the automatic flushing by thesensor without need of pushing the operational device of a user, andprovided that the automatic flushing should not work owing to some causesuch as breakdown of the sensor or power interruption or insufficientpower, it could still be flushed by manually handling the operationaldevice. In addition, the sensing structure is hidden in the operationaldevice and the toilet tank, so a wall does not have to be dug forembedding the sensor or electric wires, keeping good appearance of thewall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention will be better understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sensor-type flushing system for atoilet tank in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the sensor-type flushing system for atoilet tank in the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a toilet tank and a pressuredtank in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an operational device, a switch valve,an electromagnetic valve and a control case in the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the operational deviceand the switch valve in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic valve inthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic valve inthe present invention, showing it under working condition;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the operational device actuated tomove the switch valve in the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the drain valve of the pressuredtank under opened condition in the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an operationaldevice in the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of anoperational device in the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of anoperational device in the present invention; and,

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of anoperational device actuated to move the switch valve in the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of a sensor-type flushing system for a toilettank in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, includes atoilet tank 10, a pressured tank 20, a switch valve 30, anelectromagnetic valve 40, an operational device 50, a sensor 60, a powercircuit 70 and a control case 80 as main components.

The toilet tank 10 shown in FIG. 3 is made of porcelain, provided with ahollow space 11 for receiving the pressured water tank 20 therein.

The pressured tank 20 is deposited in the toilet tank 10, having a storespace 21 for storing pressured water therein, and a drain valve 22 fixedin the bottom for the pressured water to flow through for flushing thetoilet bawl.

The switch valve 30, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is positioned betweenthe toilet tank 10 and the pressured tank 20, consisting of a fronthousing 31, a rear housing 32 and a stop valve 33. The front housing 31is provided with an insert hole 311 in the front side, and an inlet 312in the bottom communicating with the interior of the pressured tank 20.The rear housing 32 is combined with the front housing 31 from behind,provided with a chamber 34 communicating with the inlet 312, and anoutlet 321 in a rear side communicating with the drain valve 31. Thestop valve 33 is positioned at an upper side of the inlet 312 of thefront housing 31, possible to be pressed down to open the inlet 312, asshown in FIG. 9. When the pressure against the stop valve 33 disappears,the stop valve 33 will move up to recover its position to seal the inlet312 again. When the inlet 312 is opened, the pressured water stored inthe store space 21 of the pressured tank 20 is guided by the switchvalve 30 to flow to the drain valve 22, which is then forced open to letwater flushed out, as shown in FIG. 10

The electromagnetic valve 40 shown in FIG. 7 is positioned between thetoilet tank 10 and the pressured tank 20, having an inlet 41communicating with the store space 21 of the pressured tank 20 to letthe pressured water in the stored space 21 guided into theelectromagnetic valve 40, and an outlet 42 communicating with the drainvalve 22 of the pressured tank 20. In the normal condition of theelectromagnetic valve 40 when not powered, the inlet 41 and the outlet42 are closed up. If the electromagnetic valve 40 is powered to bemagnetized, the inlet 41 and the outlet 42 are both opened, as shown inFIG. 78, permitting the pressured water shoot out of the drain valve 22for flushing the toilet bawl.

The operational device 50 shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is set at a properlocation of the front outer wall of the toilet tank 10, functioning as aswingable grip, consisting of a front cap 51, a rear cap 52 and a pressgrip 53. The front cap 51 is provided with an insert rod 511 extendingbackward and inserting orderly through the insert hole 311 of the switchvalve 30 and in the chamber 34, and a slot 512 in the front wall. Therear cap 52 is screwed tightly with the front cap 51, with a hollowchamber 54 defined between the both 51 and 52. The press grip 53 islocated in the chamber 34, provided with a shaft 531 inserting mutuallywith the insert rod 511 of the front cap 51 so that the shaft 53 may beturned in case of the front cap 51 is pressed. Further, the pressuregrip 53 is also provided with a press member 532 extending sidewise fromthe shaft 531, pressing down the stop valve 33 in case the shaft 531 isturned for a certain angle, so the inlet 312 may be opened as shown inFIG. 9.

The sensor 60 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, is fixed in the hollow space 54 ofthe operational device 50, composed of a sensing circuit 61, aprocessing circuit 62 and a driving circuit 63. The sensing circuit 61emits signals through the slot 512 and receives signals coming throughthe slot 512. The processing circuit 62 is connected with the sensingcircuit 61, processing signals coming from the sensing circuit 61, andtransmitting an output signal to the driving circuit 63, which thenopens or closes the electromagnetic valve 40 in due time. And it shouldbe mentioned that the processing device 50 is in principle to bepositioned at a spot, where signals transmitted or received through theslot 512 can avoid the toilet cover (not shown).

The power circuit 70 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, can receive the power froma power source, and sending it to the sensing circuit 61 and the drivingcircuit 62. In this embodiment, a battery 1 is used as the power source,but common AC 2 or a generator 3 can also be usable. The generator 3 canbe set in a water route (not shown) of the flushing system, generatingpower by means of the pressure of the water flowing through the waterroute. As the generator 3 is a well known art, not to be described here.

The control case 80 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, is positioned between thetoilet tank 10 and the pressure tank 20, provided with two chambers 8for installing the power circuit 70 and the battery 1 respectivelytherein, and two ends formed with a positioning member 82 respectivelyfor fixing the switch valve 30 and the electromagnetic valve 40 in aprotective manner.

Next, FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show a second embodiment of an operationaldevice 50, which is provided with a rotatable grip, and a pressablemember composed of a shell 55 formed with a front cap 551 and a rear cap552 combined together. Then a hollow space 56 for receiving the sensor60 is defined between the front cap 551 and the rear cap 552 aftercombined together. The front cap 551 is provided with a slot 553 forsignals to pass through, a hole 554 formed beside the slot 553, and apress member 57 is received in the shell 55, with a central press part571 formed in one end to expose out of the hole 554 of the front cap551. Then a compress spring 58 fits around the other (inner) end of thepress member 57, so the inner end may be pressed inward to compress thecompress spring in case the central press part 571 is pressed inward.And it has to be mentioned that the operational device 50 of the secondembodiment of the press-type can match with another switch valve 30 a,which is provided with a valve body 35 formed with an inlet 351, asidewise outlet 352 and an insert hole 353 all communicating with eachother. Further, a stop valve 36 is placed between the inlet 351 and theoutlet 352 sealing the inlet 351 and the outlet 352 under the normalcondition. The insert hole 353 is for the press member 57 to inserttherein, so the stop valve 36 may be shifted by the press member 57 toopen the inlet 351, as shown in FIG. 14. Therefore, the pressed water inthe store space 212 may be guided to the drain valve 22 for flushing thetoilet bawl in case of the drain valve 22 being opened.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor-type flushing system in theinvention carries out sensing normally by the sensor 60 of theoperational device 50. When a user has used the toilet and leaves it,the sensing circuit 61 may emit and receive a signal that the user hasgone away, and the processing circuit 62 and the driving circuit 63function to open the electromagnetic valve 40 to permit the pressuredwater flowing from the pressured tank 20 to flow through to the drainvalve 22, which is then forced to open for flushing the toilet bawl. Inaddition, the operational device 50 is also able to be manually handledfor flushing, so when the sensor gets out of order, or the battery 1 isused up or the generator 3 goes awry, or insufficient power occurs, auser can use the manual operation for flushing the toilet bawl, veryconvenient to handle the sensor-type flushing system for a toilet tankin the invention.

In general, the invention can be used automatically for flushing thetoilet bawl without using a hand, and on the other hand, it can also beused manually for flushing the toilet in case of the sensor broken downor power interruption or insufficient power. Besides, the sensingstructure is hidden in the toilet tank 10 and the operational device 50,without need of digging in a wall or exposing wires to impair theappearance.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover allsuch modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A sensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank, said systemcomprising: A toilet tank; A pressure tank installed in said toilettank, storing pressured water in an interior hollow space, provided witha drain valve for being opened for flushing water in a toilet bawl; Aswitch valve positioned between said toilet tank and said pressuredtank, possible to be opened for said pressured water stored in saidpressured water tank to flow out to said drain valve so that said drainvalve may be pushed open by said pressured water; An electromagneticvalve positioned between said toilet tank and said pressured tank,possible to be opened to permit said pressured water coming from saidpressured water tank to flow to said drain valve so that said drainvalve may be pushed open by said pressured water; An operational deviceinstalled on an outer front wall of said toilet tank, possible to bepressed elastically to actuate said switch valve to open; A sensor setin said operational device for emitting and receiving signals toward anouter side of said operational device in a certain direction so thatsaid sensor may actuate said electromagnetic valve to open in case saidsensor senses a human body leaving.
 2. The sensor-type flushing systemfor a toilet water tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operationaldevice is a swingable grip.
 3. The sensor-type flushing system for atoilet water tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said grip is providedwith a front cap, a rear cap and press grip, a hollow space is definedby said front cap and said rear cap combined together for receiving saidsensor therein, and said front cap has a slot in an front wall forsignals to pass through and a insert rod extending backward, said pressgrip located in said switch valve and inserting mutually with saidinsert rod of said front cap and pressed together with said front cap incase said front cap is pressed for opening said switch valve.
 4. Thesensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed in claim1, wherein said operational device is further provided with at least apress member to be elastically pressed for being compressed for openingsaid switch valve.
 5. The sensor-type flushing system for a toilet watertank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operational device is providedwith a shell, which is composed of a front cap and a rear cap, and ahollow space is defined by said front cap and said rear cap combinedtogether for receiving said sensor therein, said front cap provided witha slot for signals to pass through and a hole beside said slot for anouter end of said press member to expose out thereof.
 6. The sensor-typeflushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid sensor further has a sensing circuit, a processing circuitelectrically connected with said sensing circuit and a driving circuit,so said sensor emits and receives signals through said sensing circuit,and said driving circuit drives said electromagnetic valve to open. 7.The sensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said power circuit gets power from an AC power source.8. The sensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said power circuit gets power from a battery.
 9. Thesensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed in claim1, wherein said power circuit gets power from a generator.
 10. Thesensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed in claim1, wherein said power circuit is installed in a control case, which ispositioned between said toilet tank and said pressured tank.
 11. Thesensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed in claim8, wherein said battery is placed in said control case, which ispositioned between said toilet tank and said pressured tank.
 12. Thesensor-type flushing system for a toilet water tank as claimed in claim9, said generator is set in a preset portion of a water inlet route,generating power by inner pressure of said water inlet route.